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No! Girls on the Run provides the training, curriculum and supplies needed to safely lead a team for a season! You simply need to be a motivating role model for your team. Many of our coaches participate in their first 5K alongside their team!

You! GOTR is dedicated to training volunteers to understand social context, create positive inclusive environments, and build genuine relationships. We strive for our volunteers to represent the diverse and vibrant communities we work with. We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages and abilities, including Black, African, Asian, Indigenous, Latinx folks with various speech, physical and learning abilities, and LGBTQ-identified folks. We welcome coaches of all gender identities, including non-binary, gender fluid, and gender-expansive volunteers.

Yes! Community coaches are individuals not directly affiliated with a school or community location who support the Girls on the Run mission. Community coaches are placed according to their geographic location and their availability at sites that need additional coaches.

Nope! Every team has 2-4 GOTR-trained coaches that work together to lead their team of girls through the season. 

No! We provide you with training, curriculum and supplies – everything needed to coach a safe, successful season! You should not incur any personal costs to provide the program to your team.

Our council provides each program location with the curriculum and supplies needed to facilitate the season. Materials can be picked up at a New Coach Training or our office in Dumbo. We will contact coaches to arrange pick-up for their team’s materials. 

Coach training includes online self-paced training and an in-person training session. We will provide more information about coach training before the season begins. 

Coaches must attend and lead 75 to 90-minute practices twice per week for 10 weeks. To provide a consistent experience to participants, your commitment is crucial to prepare and collaborate with co-coaches to facilitate fun, successful lessons. Each season culminates with a team-led community project and celebratory 5K event.  

The Site Liaison role is the person who will serve as the main point of contact between the GOTR staff and your site. This person can be a coach who also attends practices or someone who serves solely in the Site Liaison role.

Teams may practice at designated parks, recreation and community centers, homes and schools. The location and times are approved prior to participant registration each season. Practice times are typically set in the late afternoon/early evening hours (to accommodate participants after school). 

Coaches may indicate where they would like to coach. Placement discussions are hosted by GOTR staff with new coaches to help determine your coach placement for the season.

You're not missing anything! Many of our sites are waiting to hear more about school plans and other commitments before they finalize practice days/times. If you have specific availability notes we should be aware of when assigning coaching, please indicate them in your coach application and we'll do our best to accommodate your preferences. Thank you!

Absolutely! The more, the merrier! Each Girls on the Run team is led, on average, by two to four trained coaches. If you would like to coach at an existing site with another applicant, please mention this in your application and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact our program team at program@gotrnyc.org with coaching questions.